Celebrate the New Year
at The Movies!!!
(L to R) Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer,
and Courtney B. Vance
Joyful Noise – If you loved the Sister Act movies and The Preacher's Wife, you'll stand up and cheer for Joyful Noise. This musically delightful tale is sweet and palatable for every appetite. Sometimes, when you just want to get away and take in a film that entertains from start to finish, Joyful Noise will not disappoint, you just go along for the ride.
Clashing egos, opposing interests, mother-daughter conflict, love lost and love found, topical health issues, dedication and hope all find their way in this story about a small town choir seeking to win a coveted competition.
Well cast with Queen Latifah (Secret Life of Bees), country music superstar Dolly Parton (9 to 5, Straight Talk), Keke Palmer (Akeelah and The Bee, Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion), Broadway star Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Bonnie & Clyde), Courtney B. Vance (The Preacher's Wife, Love and Action in Chicago), Kris Kristofferson (Dolphin Tale, A Star is Born), and Jesse L. Martin (Broadway's Rent, TV's Law & Order), the uplifting music makes you sway and the content is suitable for families. Faith-friendly, Joyful Noise is a New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. release.
I sat with several cast members who opened up about their connection to this film--
Talk2SV: There is an obvious chemistry between the two of you; did it take long to pick up each other's vibe?
Jeremy Jordan: When we met we hit it off right away. Sometimes when I meet people, it takes me awhile to open up to them, but with her, it was like, 'Hi, I'm Keke…tell me everything about you.' So, you have no choice but to just open up and we connected right off the bat. Plus, we also had a month of rehearsal time because it's a big musical show and so we had to really rehearse all the dancing and all the singing. We had a lot of time before the movie actually shot to get to know each other.
Keke Palmer: I think some of its acting but I think honestly, I mean well you know what, I don't know why, we just immediately did have, when we totally started acting, before the movie just talking, you never really know who you're going to have chemistry with or what's going to turn out to be but as soon as we started acting I just felt like, oh this guy we're going to be doing this because we immediately just worked off of each other well, something clicked because sometimes you can see two great actors in a movie and they don't have chemistry, it doesn't matter how good the actor, sometimes there's just no chemistry there, but in this case I guess it was just a genuine little connection.
Jeremy Jordan: I think the most important thing with chemistry whether on stage or on film is being friends, being comfortable and trusting the person. Then it comes just naturally after that.
Talk2SV: This is a musical yet, it doesn't overpower you with the songs or with the way they are delivered…
J. Jordan: Yeah, it wasn't like 'hey, I'm talking and then I'm going to burst into song.' All the songs in this story come from an organic place like how they would come in real life. There's like a couple dream sequences but nothing like a traditional musical, it all comes from normal singing like you would do in real life.
Keke: I'm not a huge musical fan. One particular musical that I loved and didn't even realize it was a musical was Crybaby with Johnny Depp. I loved that movie. For some reason when people just jump out [singing] I feel it's not real. So doing this movie was perfect because you get all the music you want but it's done like Jeremy said, in an organic way; it doesn't make you feel like you're not in reality. When stuff isn't real for me sometimes it just totally turns me away.
Talk2SV: Gospel music sits at the heart of this film; did you have much experience as gospel singers?
Keke: Growing up, I've always been in the choir, very similar to my character in this movie. My mother is a choir director, my father's a deacon—this story is very close to home. So I think that's probably why I am so comfortable with it. The first song I ever sang was Jesus Loves Me so it was right at home for me as far as church and stuff like that.
J. Jordan: I never sang gospel much before but I think the only thing you have to know to sing gospel is to know how to sing from your heart and from your soul. I've always done that. Singing for me has always been the thing that touches the deepest part of me and that's all gospel music is.
Talk2SV: The small town feel of this movie is pivotal. What have been your small town experiences, if any, any and how do you relate to them?
Keke: I'm from a small town. I have many small town experiences. I remember going through the pathway (on the back of our house) to our grandmother's. She's since passed away, but she lived right behind us. My father is from Cabrini Green (housing complex in Chicago area) and when he and my mother married, they stayed in Chicago for awhile then decided to move back to the South suburbs near my grandmother, literally, right behind her. We moved back there and that's where I was born and grew up. Going to the pathway after I would make my Easy Bake Oven treats with my grandmother; going to her house giving her some treats or walking to corner store with my sister to get a $.25 bag of chips. Going to church and going to Vacation Bible School with my cousins. Just being involved… small towns, I just love them. Everybody is so close and connected; you know everybody. 'Little Larry' and if he's still getting into some trouble, everybody is connected. It makes me happy because you know everybody. Like my aunt knows Dwayne Wade because he's from the same small town that I'm from so she hangs out with his auntie. It's not for everybody. Some people hate it because they feel like it's too connected but for me, it's always been a love fest. I've always loved knowing everybody because I love family and I love being connected to people.
J. Jordan: Well, my character is not from a small town. I mean he comes into this small town; he's from New York and has a very different experience although he grows to love the small town mentality. He comes in with a jaded point of view, with these sorts of these high ideals of what things really should be. By the end of the movie, he learns to love the little things and learns about community. That aspect of the story was very touching to me because I'm from a pretty large city. Now, I live in New York so I've never had much experience with small towns. It's great to see that feeling of community and how it can bring out the best in everybody.
Talk2SV: Was this your first onscreen kiss?
Keke: No, this is my first onscreen make out session (said with much expression followed by laughter).
J. Jordan: Yeah, an onscreen make out session that lasted six seconds!
Keke: Yeah, it wasn't too long but it was my first real adult kiss. This is definitely a 'coming of age' film for me (laughter). It just shows that I'm growing up but it was definitely awkward. I was so nervous because I've never even done something like that; it like I just couldn't believe it.
Talk2SV: After this movie, how do you continue from this point forward with your film choices? What else would you like to do?
Keke: I almost hate to try to predict what I want to do next because whenever you do, it usually ends up more than what you expected or less than what you expected. Not necessarily right on the money. So I'd have to say as far as future projects, my roles, I just want stuff that I can feel and that I connect to. I'm growing up but I'm not trying to rush into it. I don't necessarily have to do a love story next or anything like that. But I just want to gradually pick and chose the films that best suit me and where I am and where I think I'm going. I don't like to paint a picture before I get my paint.
J. Jordan: The little kid in me wants to do a 'bad ass' action film but I want to be that guy that's running from the exploding fire. So, in terms of film, I'd love to do something that can only be done in film. Since I'm a theatre actor, we're always doing more emotional things that are more personal and connected with love stories. I'd love to do big action movies or stuff like that.
Tags: Joyful Noise, Broadway, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan, teenage love, onscreen kisses, gospel music, Sandra Varner, Talk2SV, Chicago, New York City, country western music, rap music, hip hop
